Michael Blieden

Michael Blieden is a writer/director. Blieden most recently directed and executive produced the series South Side for Comedy Central. His previous directing work has included episodes of Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll for FX, Brooklyn Nine-Nine for FOX, Sirens for USA, Broad City for Comedy Central, Up All Night for NBC, Awkward and The Inbetweeners for MTV, and Children’s Hospital for Adult Swim. Prior to his episodic work, Blieden directed all the short films and roll-ins for Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, where he was also a staff writer. He has also produced and directed live specials for comedians Zach Galifianakis and Joe Rogan plus music videos for Fiona Apple and Kanye West.

Kevin James

Kevin James began his career as a stand-up on the Long Island comedy scene. After being discovered at the 1996 Montreal Comedy Festival, he signed a network development deal to create his own sitcom.

The King of Queens, which premiered in 1998, ran for nine seasons on CBS with James starring and executive producing, and it garnered him an Emmy nomination in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show concluded its run in 2007 but continues to air daily in syndication across the country and around the world. James also starred in and executive produced the sitcom Kevin Can Wait for Sony Television and CBS.

In 2001, James brought his stand-up act to TV with Sweat the Small Stuff, a one-hour special for Comedy Central. In 2005, Kevin James and Ray Romano executive produced and starred in the HBO Sports Special Making the Cut: The Road to Pebble Beach; a documentary about the Pebble Beach Pro Am Golf Tournament that was nominated for a Sports Emmy. His second comedy special Never Don’t Give Up premiered on Netflix in April 2018.

James was the producer, co-writer, and star of the hit comedies Paul Blart: Mall Cop 1 & 2, Zookeeper, and Here Comes The Boom. James made his feature film debut in 2005 in Columbia Pictures’ Hitch starring opposite Will Smith, and starred alongside Adam Sandler in Pixels, Grown Ups, Grown Ups 2, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. He starred in the feature True Memoirs of an International Assassin for Netflix in 2016. In addition to his on-camera work, James’s voice has been featured in the animated films Barnyard for Nick Movies, as well as Monster House and the Hotel Transylvania franchise for Sony Pictures Animation.

Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan has been described as “One of the most complex and exciting stand-ups working in America today. Like an idealistic hippy stuck inside the body of a testosterone-pumped US marine. He’s been likened to late great US comedians such as Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, but although he exhibits a similar brand of furious indignation, his observations and revelations are entirely his own. His angry, insightful act is an absorbing battle between his raw libertarian instincts and his refined liberal sensibilities.” –William Cook, The Guardian

A standup comedian for over 20 years, Rogan’s sixth hour long comedy special Joe Rogan: Strange Times premiered on Netflix in October 2018. Rogan’s previous comedy specials include Joe Rogan: Triggered (2016) for Netflix, Joe Rogan: Rocky Mountain High (2014)forComedy Central, Joe Rogan: Live from the Tabernacle (2012) released via his website, Talking Monkeys in Space (2009) on CD & DVD, and Joe Rogan Live (2007) on DVD. Additionally, Rogan released the CDs Shiny Happy Jihad (2007) and I’m Gonna Be Dead Someday (2000).

Rogan is host of The Joe Rogan Experience, a long form conversation with guests that is one of the most popular comedy podcasts on iTunes.

Since 2002, Rogan has provided color commentary for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) on Pay Per View, Spike Television, and FOX. Rogan’s passion for MMA began with martial arts practice at the age of 13. Within two years, the Boston native earned a black belt and soon became the Massachusetts full contact Tae Kwon Do champion four consecutive years. By the age of 19, Rogan won the US Open Tae Kwon Do Championship and as lightweight champion went on to beat both the middle and heavyweight title-holders to obtain the Grand Championship.

Film credits include Here Comes The Boom (2012) and Zookeeper (2011). Rogan hosted Joe Rogan Questions Everything (2013)for the SyFy channel. Rogan hosted the competition reality series Fear Factor on NBC in 2011/12 and previously for six seasons on the network from 2001-2006. Prior to Fear Factor, Rogan played Joe Garrelli, the resident electrician on the hit NBC comedy series NewsRadio.

Bas Rutten

Bas Rutten is a world-renowned mixed martial artist who has also made a name for himself outside the ring as an actor, host, and television personality.

As an actor Rutten can be seen currently in the sitcom Kevin Can Wait for CBS (2017). Previously he co-starred in Here Comes the Boom (2012), appeared in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) and Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) for Columbia Pictures, and lent his talents to the voice cast of Zookeeper (2011).

Rutten co-hosts Rutten and Ranallo alongside combat sports announcer Mauro Ranallo, a weekly sports podcast that delves into all things MMA and beyond. Rutten co-hosted the weekly MMA news program Inside MMA on AXS TV (2007-2016). Rutten has provided color commentary for several fight organizations including the former Pride Fighting Championships. Combining his athleticism with his comical side, he can be seen on the Cartoon Network’s kid-targeted Get Healthy campaign and hosted the self-defense show Punk Payback for Fuel TV.

Rutten is a former three-time King of Pancrase World Champion and UFC Heavyweight Champion. Born and raised in Holland, his devotion to martial arts began after sneaking into a movie screening of Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon. First known as a devastating stand up striker with 11 career wins by knockout, Rutten also dominated with 14 wins by submission and went undefeated in his final 22 fights.